Grounding sheets are a relatively new type of technology that mimics direct contact with the earth. This process is similar to walking barefoot, and it has many health benefits such as improved sleep, reduced stress levels, and help with chronic diseases. However, are grounding sheets safe? If you are curious about these products and are considering investing in them, you might also be concerned about their safety. Read on to find out more on the matter.
A Brief Introduction to Grounding Sheets
Grounding technology is known by many names - pads, sheets, and mats, for example. Earthing or grounding sheets are typically larger and used for sleep purposes. They are usually much thinner - similar to the thickness of a traditional top sheet for your bed.
The underlying process involves making direct contact with a piece of material imbued with a constant low-level electrical current. A grounded outlet is connected to a wire, which is then inserted into the earthing product. The electrical outlet is switched on, and a current travels through the wire and into the piece of material.
When sleeping grounded or just touching the sheet with your bare feet, your body then takes on the grounding product’s free electrons and negative charge. This transferal of free electrons into the human body is what we benefit from.
Earthing sheets mimic the earth’s surface electrons, so the reaction we get from them is similar to walking barefoot on grass or dirt. They replicate the earth’s energy and allow us to benefit from the balance it brings to our nervous and immune systems.
The Potential Dangers of Earthing Sheets
Now that you have an initial understanding of human grounding and earthing sheets, we can look specifically at the dangers. Yes, there are potential problems, and you must be aware of them. Mainly, these dangers result from typical human interaction with electrical currents.
Electric Shock
The most lethal danger is, of course, electric shock. You could, for example, use a grounding sheet with a faulty wire, which may send an intense, high-voltage shock through your body. Depending on the path of least resistance, this could be fatal because an excessive electrical charge has to exit our bodies. If this were across your chest, your heart would receive a lethal shock, and you would likely go into cardiac arrest.
Even a non-lethal electrical shock could still cause health issues and damage your body in other ways. As shown below, this could be nerve damage or paralysis.
Although this is a potential issue, the same can be said for using any electrical device. We reduce the chance by checking for faults and buying high-quality products.
Nervous System Damage
If an electrical shock doesn’t kill you, it could still cause severe nerve damage. Our nervous system uses a series of quick electrical pulses, and this is how organs, like our heart and muscles, work.
However, if that system is over-stimulated, the signals could be amplified and cause things like nerve endings to burn out or even be damaged permanently. For example, this can result in a loss of function of our limbs. Milder nerve issues can develop numbness, muscle pain, and regular pins and needles.
Pollution From Dirty Electricity
Dirty electricity is a phenomenon that has been around for ages, but we are only beginning to notice and understand it; this is susceptible to voltage spikes and drops outside the ideal sine waveform. In contrast, clean electricity provides a continuous voltage with no spikes.
Although there is still minimum research on the adverse effects of dirty electricity, it could cause a potential issue. For example, some studies have shown that it can cause headaches and make people feel lethargic. If a grounding product has dirty electricity pollution, it could reduce the device’s effectiveness and even have adverse effects instead of positive ones.
Individual Body Reactions
As with any form of treatment or process, there is no guarantee that everyone will react the same. Two people may use grounding sheets and have completely different experiences. Person A, for example, may think it’s wonderful and benefit from better sleep. Person B, on the other hand, may not like the feel of the electrical current and stop using it immediately.
Every human is unique; therefore, earthing sheets may produce highly variable results. We must account for this, and it is one of the potential dangers. For example, someone with a low immune system or poor autonomic nervous system could react badly to using an earthing sheet.
If you are unsure of the suitability of a grounding product because of underlying health issues, we would always advise seeking professional medical advice first.
Tips on Using Your Grounding Sheets Safely
As you can see, there are potential dangers associated with earthing sheets, but this is always the case when dealing with anything that affects body voltage. However, there is no reason why the human body cannot be grounded safely. Below, we have listed several simple tips to improve your safety when using an earthing product.
Start With a Limited Usage
With many processes that affect our body, a safe practice is to build up usage. For example, if you start going to the gym, you wouldn’t immediately jump on the toughest machine or try to lift the heaviest weight.
The same can be said for grounding sheets. As you allow electrons and an electrical charge into your body, starting off small is a great idea. Use the device for no longer than an hour initially. Once you are comfortable with the process, you can increase the time accordingly.
Make Safety Checks Each Time Before Usage
Most grounding sheets experience problems because of underlying electrical faults - not because the technology doesn’t work or is unreliable.
For example, you may receive a sheet that has a faulty grounding plug or a poor connection between the sheet and wire.
This is why it is crucial to make safety checks before using one. We advise inspecting the wall power outlet, the grounding plug, the connecting wire, and the electrical port on the grounding device. Make sure everything looks secure, and there is no damage so you can reduce the chance of danger from an electrical fault.
Use the Earthing Sheet in an Area With No Electrical Interference
When using any type of electrical product, there is the potential for interference from external sources. For example, a grounding product could be affected by a mobile phone, computer, desk fan, or TV when utilised in an office environment.
The electrical interference could potentially affect the performance of the grounding device and even make it unsafe. The chance of this happening is incredibly low, but the possibilities are more significant if a product has a fault.
Therefore, we advise trying to use an earthing sheet in an area with little to no electrical interference.
Grounding Sheet FAQs
Can an Earthing Sheet Be Plugged Into Any Type of Socket?
No. These electrically conductive products have a specific voltage rating and must be used in a ground port with a suitable connection. Always read the manufacturer’s instructions to find out how to use one!
Is Natural Earthing Potentially Dangerous?
Yes. In the same way that grounding pads and earthing sheets are potentially harmful. Whenever electrical currents are involved, there is the possibility of danger. For example, you could unknowingly walk barefoot on the ground in an area where there is a build-up of natural electricity and thus get shocked.
Can You Use a Grounding Sheet for Prolonged Periods?
Yes, you definitely can, although we advise building this up over time. A grounding sheet can invoke an immune response, and people may react in various ways. It is best practice, therefore, to only use an earthing sheet for long periods once your body is used to the grounding effects.
Always Be Safe When Using Grounding Sheets
We hope you have found this article useful. You should now have a clear answer to our initial question - are grounding sheets safe?
Indeed, these modern devices are safe, but caution is needed, as with any electrical system. These conductive systems may potentially cause shocks, so we always advise performing safety checks on the products and tailoring the amount of usage time based on your body’s reaction.